Device for winding and unwinding a web of material

Abstract

A device for winding and unwinding a web of material and including two separated uprights, in each of which is mounted a horizontal chuck onto which the core tube can be introduced. To prevent the core tube from corrugating or tearing, there is a mechanism (15-17) that supports the reel (8) at the bottom during winding and unwinding and that can move along with the reel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a device for winding and unwinding a reel comprising a web of material on a core tube and comprising two separated uprights, in each of which is mounted a horizontal chuck which can engage the core tube, the improvement comprising a mechanism (15-17) that supports the reel (8) at the bottom during winding and unwinding, means for moving the supporting mechanism along with the reel, means for detecting the actual weight of the reel on the chucks and means for raising the supporting mechanism in accordance with the actual weight. 
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting mechanism (15-17) has a supporting surface that rests flat against the bottom of the reel (8). 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 2, including a mechanism that aligns the reel with and positions it on the chucks (7), means for swinging said mechanism out of the way, a supporting component for said mechanism, a framework in which are mounted the swinging means and the supporting component, and means for raising and lowering the framework. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 1, including means for raising and lowering the component (17) of the supporting mechanism (15-17) that engages the reel. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supporting mechanism includes a framework (15) that can be raised and lowered, and a continuous belt (17) that moves freely in the framework. 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanism includes several alignment rolls (18) that can be swung out of the way and that are positioned separated, above the surface of the supporting component (17), on each side of the axis of a mounted reel, and parallel to its axis. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a supporting roll on which at least one upright is mounted in such a way that it can move transverse to the direction in which the web travels. 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in claim 7, including a wire strain gauge to measure the flection of the axis of the supporting roll.